Atheros Communications AR242x doesn't work anymore

[Christian Prim]

Description: Ubuntu 8.10

04:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01)

linux-restricted-modules-2.6.27-6-generic (amd64) worked perfectly.

The actual linux-restricted-modules-2.6.27-7-generic produces (dmesg):
[ 1739.688999] ath_hal: 0.9.18.0 (AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, RF5111, RF5112, RF2413, RF5413)
[ 1739.702213] wlan: 0.9.4
[ 1739.709863] ath_pci: 0.9.4
[ 1739.710768] ath_pci 0000:04:00.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
[ 1739.710783] ath_pci 0000:04:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
[ 1739.710800] ath_pci 0000:04:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 1739.716081] wifi%d: unable to attach hardware: 'Hardware didn't respond as expected' (HAL status 3)
[ 1739.716110] ath_pci 0000:04:00.0: PCI INT A disabled

Has something changed in the HAL??

[Christian Prim (christian-prim)]

I've solved the problem by installing:

linux-backports-modules-intrepid

ath5k works for me!

[stianst (stianst)]

This used to work for me in Ubuntu 8.10 alpha's + beta, but then for a few days ago it stopped working. Not quite sure what packages where updated.

I've now tried installing Ubuntu 8.10 final, which doesn't work either.

dmesg output:

[ 13.927851] ath_hal: module license 'Proprietary' taints kernel.
[ 13.936510] ath_hal: 0.9.18.0 (AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, RF5111, RF5112, RF2413, RF5413)
[ 13.999791] wlan: 0.9.4
[ 14.021380] ath_pci: 0.9.4
[ 14.021437] ath_pci 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
[ 14.021449] ath_pci 0000:02:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 14.069698] wifi%d: unable to attach hardware: 'Hardware revision not supported' (HAL status 13)

lspci output:

02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01)
 Subsystem: Askey Computer Corp. Device 7131
 Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
 Region 0: Memory at f6000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
 Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
  Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot+,D3cold-)
  Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
 Capabilities: [50] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
  Address: 00000000 Data: 0000
 Capabilities: [60] Express (v1) Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
  DevCap: MaxPayload 128 bytes, PhantFunc 0, Latency L0s <512ns, L1 <64us
   ExtTag- AttnBtn- AttnInd- PwrInd- RBE- FLReset-
  DevCtl: Report errors: Correctable- Non-Fatal- Fatal- Unsupported-
   RlxdOrd+ ExtTag- PhantFunc- AuxPwr- NoSnoop-
   MaxPayload 128 bytes, MaxReadReq 512 bytes
  DevSta: CorrErr- UncorrErr+ FatalErr- UnsuppReq+ AuxPwr- TransPend-
  LnkCap: Port #0, Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, ASPM L0s L1, Latency L0 <512ns, L1 <64us
   ClockPM- Suprise- LLActRep- BwNot-
  LnkCtl: ASPM Disabled; RCB 128 bytes Disabled- Retrain- CommClk-
   ExtSynch- ClockPM- AutWidDis- BWInt- AutBWInt-
  LnkSta: Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, TrErr- Train- SlotClk+ DLActive- BWMgmt- ABWMgmt-
 Capabilities: [90] MSI-X: Enable- Mask- TabSize=1
  Vector table: BAR=0 offset=00000000
  PBA: BAR=0 offset=00000000
 Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting <?>
 Capabilities: [140] Virtual Channel <?>
 Kernel modules: ath_pci

[mdascanio (mdascan)]

Same problem here, on a Toshiba Satellite A205-S5811:

dmesg:

[ 4027.472147] ath_hal: module license 'Proprietary' taints kernel.
[ 4027.475176] ath_hal: 0.9.18.0 (AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, RF5111, RF5112, RF2413, RF5413)
[ 4027.501270] wlan: 0.9.4
[ 4027.515870] ath_pci: 0.9.4
[ 4027.517303] ath_pci 0000:03:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
[ 4027.517329] ath_pci 0000:03:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 4027.569265] wifi%d: unable to attach hardware: 'Hardware revision not supported' (HAL status 13)
[ 4027.569310] ath_pci 0000:03:00.0: PCI INT A disabled

lspci:

03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01)
 Subsystem: Askey Computer Corp. Device 7128
 Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
 Region 0: Memory at f1000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=64K]
 Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
  Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
  Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
 Capabilities: [50] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
  Address: 00000000 Data: 0000
 Capabilities: [60] Express (v1) Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
  DevCap: MaxPayload 128 bytes, PhantFunc 0, Latency L0s <512ns, L1 <64us
   ExtTag- AttnBtn- AttnInd- PwrInd- RBE- FLReset-
  DevCtl: Report errors: Correctable- Non-Fatal- Fatal- Unsupported-
   RlxdOrd+ ExtTag- PhantFunc- AuxPwr- NoSnoop-
   MaxPayload 128 bytes, MaxReadReq 512 bytes
  DevSta: CorrErr- UncorrErr- FatalErr- UnsuppReq- AuxPwr- TransPend-
  LnkCap: Port #0, Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, ASPM L0s L1, Latency L0 <512ns, L1 <64us
   ClockPM- Suprise- LLActRep- BwNot-
  LnkCtl: ASPM Disabled; RCB 128 bytes Disabled- Retrain- CommClk-
   ExtSynch- ClockPM- AutWidDis- BWInt- AutBWInt-
  LnkSta: Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, TrErr- Train- SlotClk+ DLActive- BWMgmt- ABWMgmt-
 Capabilities: [90] MSI-X: Enable- Mask- TabSize=1
  Vector table: BAR=0 offset=00000000
  PBA: BAR=0 offset=00000000
 Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting <?>
 Capabilities: [140] Virtual Channel <?>
 Kernel modules: ath_pci, ath5k

[Brandon Konkle (brandon-konkle)]

I had this same problem with an HP Pavilion dv6810us. I did some research and found out that ath_pci is deprecated because it uses a proprietary component, and ath5k is the replacement - but ath5k is only in backports. Once I enabled intrepid-backports in Software Sources --> Updates, installed linux-backports-modules-intrepid, and rebooted - everything was fine. I closed my ticket for bug #298399 (which I now realize was a duplicate of this one).

[Alex Leone (acleone)]

Same problem on an Acer AS5570Z-2997, fresh install of 8.10 with 2.6.27-9-generic

dmesg:
[ 12.854127] ath_hal: module license 'Proprietary' taints kernel.
[ 12.885211] intel_rng: FWH not detected
[ 12.913217] ath_hal: 0.9.18.0 (AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, RF5111, RF5112, RF2413, RF5413)
[ 13.077249] wlan: 0.9.4
[ 13.085565] ath_pci: 0.9.4
[ 13.115304] ath_pci 0000:03:00.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
[ 13.115316] ath_pci 0000:03:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
[ 13.115334] ath_pci 0000:03:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 13.163734] wifi%d: unable to attach hardware: 'Hardware revision not supported' (HAL status 13)
[ 13.163834] ath_pci 0000:03:00.0: PCI INT A disabled

lspci:
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01)
 Subsystem: AMBIT Microsystem Corp. Device 0428
 Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
 Region 0: Memory at 8c100000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=64K]
 Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
  Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
  Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
 Capabilities: [50] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
  Address: 00000000 Data: 0000
 Capabilities: [60] Express (v1) Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
  DevCap: MaxPayload 128 bytes, PhantFunc 0, Latency L0s <512ns, L1 <64us
   ExtTag- AttnBtn- AttnInd- PwrInd- RBE- FLReset-
  DevCtl: Report errors: Correctable- Non-Fatal- Fatal- Unsupported-
   RlxdOrd+ ExtTag- PhantFunc- AuxPwr- NoSnoop-
   MaxPayload 128 bytes, MaxReadReq 512 bytes
  DevSta: CorrErr- UncorrErr- FatalErr- UnsuppReq- AuxPwr- TransPend-
  LnkCap: Port #0, Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, ASPM L0s L1, Latency L0 <512ns, L1 <64us
   ClockPM- Suprise- LLActRep- BwNot-
  LnkCtl: ASPM Disabled; RCB 128 bytes Disabled- Retrain- CommClk-
   ExtSynch- ClockPM- AutWidDis- BWInt- AutBWInt-
  LnkSta: Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, TrErr- Train- SlotClk+ DLActive- BWMgmt- ABWMgmt-
 Capabilities: [90] MSI-X: Enable- Mask- TabSize=1
  Vector table: BAR=0 offset=00000000
  PBA: BAR=0 offset=00000000
 Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting <?>
 Capabilities: [140] Virtual Channel <?>
 Kernel modules: ath_pci

[Alex Leone (acleone)]

Installing linux-backports-modules-intrepid fixed the problem for me (on a Acer AS5570Z-2997)

[Fabio Bossi (fabio-bossi-deactivatedaccount)]

Same problem on a Toshiba Satellite Pro laptop.

WORKAROUND: http://madberry.org/2008/11/how-to-get-atheros-ar242x-to-work-on-810-intrepid-ibex/

[Fabio Bossi (fabio-bossi-deactivatedaccount)]

Whoops, my actual workaround was this:

http://ubuntuguy.com/how-to/using-an-atheros-ar242x-with-ubuntu-810/

[Marco Diaz (zethabyte)]

In my ubuntu 9.04 with Atheros AR242x ; I have same error.

I solved the problem as follows:

Download the package http://snapshots.madwifi-project.org/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6-r4068-20090705.tar.gz

decompress and install.

Activate the module: modprobe ath_pci

Edit the file /etc/modules and add: ath_pci

Reboot ...

And wireless networks work without problem ..

[Trent Waddington (qg)]

Ya, ask of 24 October 2009, this is still a problem.. one day wifi is working fine, next day it isn't. To fix: plug the computer into a wired network connection and select:

Administration -> Software Sources -> Updates and tick hardy-backports (or whatever your distro name is now, "backports" being the important part). It will ask you to update, say yes.

Then do:

sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-hardy

(or whatever your distro name is now, "linux-backports-modules-" being the important part). Or use synapic package manager to do this.

And reboot. If you still have troubles, you may need to go into Administration -> Hardware Drivers and uncheck one of the Atheros drivers.. you want HAL and the 5xxx driver.. you don't want the other one.

This is painfully annoying and it would be great if the package manager didn't crud up stuff that was working perfectly fine thank you.